Grant Stone Diesel Boot vs Red Wing Blacksmith
106 facts in comparison
Based on 281 Reddit opinions. Diesel BootGrant Stone Diesel Boot leads by 6 points.
281 opinions
Diesel Boot leads by 6pts
VS
Reddit's Pick
GS
Diesel Boot
77%
B
Based on
690 Redditors
Winner
Grant Stone Diesel Boot
~$334.95
193 opinions
tldr; Best value in goodyear welt boots. Chinese made but excellent quality. Diesel boot is the standout.
Check pricesVS
71%
B-
Based on
264 Redditors
Red Wing Blacksmith
88 opinions
tldr; Iron Ranger's sleeker sibling. Same quality, no cap toe. Easier to dress up slightly.
Check prices⭐LEA
⭐CON
❤️COM
🔧DUR
📐FIT
73
Points
65
Points
Score by Category
Leather Quality
100%100%
Construction
82%57%
Comfort & Break-in
43%36%
Durability
100%71%
Fit & Sizing
24%23%
Why is Red Wing Blacksmith better than Stone Diesel Boot?
- Better value (100% vs 89%)
- Briar Oil Slick leather classy with conditioning
- Resolable, but 430 mini-lug stiff
- Size down 0.5 from Brannock
Based on 954 Reddit opinions
Slight Edge
Reddit prefers the Diesel BootGrant Stone Diesel Boot
Winning by 6 points (77% vs 71%)
Better construction
Better durability
Better comfort
High confidence (954 mentions)
💬Reddit Sentiment
Based on 954 Reddit mentionsOverall Rating
Diesel Boot
7.7/10
690 mentions
Wing Blacksmith
7.1/10
264 mentions
LEATHER QUALITY
Diesel Boot10.0/10
Wing Blacksmith10.0/10
CONSTRUCTION
Diesel Boot8.2/10
Wing Blacksmith5.7/10
DURABILITY
Diesel Boot10.0/10
Wing Blacksmith7.1/10
COMFORT
Diesel Boot4.3/10
Wing Blacksmith3.6/10
VALUE
Diesel Boot8.9/10
Wing Blacksmith10.0/10
FIT
Diesel Boot2.4/10
Wing Blacksmith2.3/10
⚔️
Head to Head
| Topic | Diesel Boot | Wing Blacksmith |
|---|---|---|
Leather Quality | 100% | 100% |
Construction | 82% | 57% |
Durability | 100% | 71% |
Comfort | 43% | 36% |
Value | 89% | 100% |
Fit | 24% | 23% |
Category Wins
Diesel Boot: 3|Wing Blacksmith: 1
Head to Head
Diesel Boot: 3|Wing Blacksmith: 1
Leather Quality
Diesel Boot100%
Wing Blacksmith100%
ConstructionDiesel Boot
Diesel Boot82%
Wing Blacksmith57%
DurabilityDiesel Boot
Diesel Boot100%
Wing Blacksmith71%
ComfortDiesel Boot
Diesel Boot43%
Wing Blacksmith36%
ValueWing Blacksmith
Diesel Boot89%
Wing Blacksmith100%
Fit
Diesel Boot24%
Wing Blacksmith23%
Diesel Boot
77%
71%
Wing Blacksmith
Diesel Boot77%
Wing Blacksmith71%
Diesel Boot wins by 6 points
Key Specs
| Spec | Grant Stone Diesel Boot | Red Wing Blacksmith |
|---|---|---|
| Last | Leo last | No. 8 Last |
| Construction | Goodyear welt (360-degree split-reverse or flat welt) | Goodyear Welt |
| Lining | Full-grain kip leather lining | — |
| Insole Midsole | Vegetable-tanned leather insole, welt, and midsole with cork filler and steel shank | — |
| Sole | Micro stud rubber outsole (also available with leather or wedge sole) | — |
Key Highlights
Grant Stone Diesel BootWinner
🥾 Best price/performance ratio at $350
💰 Used pairs $175-$225
📏 Leo last: size down 0.5 from Brannock
⚠️ Insole glue may fail after 4+ years
👍 Storm Suede praised for ankle wrap
Red Wing Blacksmith
👍 Briar Oil Slick leather classy with conditioning
🔄 Resolable, but 430 mini-lug stiff
📏 Size down 0.5 from Brannock
🪡 No midsole - harder underfoot
🇺🇸 Made in USA heritage
Topic Battles
Diesel Boot: 3|Tied: 2|Wing Blacksmith: 0
⭐Leather Quality
Diesel Boot
100%
Wing Blacksmith
100%
⭐Construction
Diesel Boot winsDiesel Boot
82%
Wing Blacksmith
57%
❤️Comfort & Break-in
Diesel Boot winsDiesel Boot
43%
Wing Blacksmith
36%
🔧Durability
Diesel Boot winsDiesel Boot
100%
Wing Blacksmith
71%
📐Fit & Sizing
Diesel Boot
24%
Wing Blacksmith
23%
Based on Reddit sentiment across 5 categories
📈Where They Rank
💬What Redditors Actually Say
What Redditors Say
Best praise vs top criticism for Grant Stone Diesel Boot
Best Praise
+8 pts“I tried the diesel and loved it. I’ve stuck with them for dress boots and have 3 pair. No issues. Made pretty solid. The Dainite sole is slippery when wet and is rigid. I usually go for dainite but I think I’d rather have a leather sole. But I have 2 dainite soles. There are sales throughout the year. I hear their b-grades are a steal and nothing really wrong with them from what people have reported.”
r/malefashionadvice
ViewTop Criticism
+6 pts“That's not Grant Stone's Diesel boot, that's their Cap Toe Boot.”
r/goodyearwelt
View3 more quotes available below
What Redditors Say
Best praise vs top criticism for Red Wing Blacksmith
Best Praise
+8 pts“I love my 3340. The blacksmith is very classic to me, and I agree that the model should be pictured in the dictionary definition of heritage styled boot, no question. CRT is pretty iconic, but Briar Oil Slick takes the cake for me as all-time favorite from SB Foot/Red Wing.”
r/goodyearwelt
ViewTop Criticism
+16 pts“Blacksmith/Iron Ranger are classic. I just hate the lack of a midsole. It's a nonstarter for me. I love your review, and thanks for sharing. I'm glad you enjoy them so much. That's the beauty of a good fitting pair of footwear.”
r/goodyearwelt
View3 more quotes available below
Sentiment Over Time
Diesel Boot
Red Wing Blacksmith
📈Historical Price Data
Grant Stone Diesel Boot
Red Wing Blacksmith
Grant Stone Diesel Boot
All-time low: $154.95(2023-10)
Red Wing Blacksmith
Which is Better?
Grant Stone Diesel Boot Wins
77%
Boot
vs
71%
Blacksmith
Grant Stone Diesel Boot leads by 6 points based on 954 Reddit opinions.
Why Diesel BootWinner
- 🥾 Best price/performance ratio at $350
- 💰 Used pairs $175-$225
- 📏 Leo last: size down 0.5 from Brannock
- More discussed (690 vs 264)
Why Wing Blacksmith
- Better Value for Money (100% vs 89%)
❤️The Love/Hate Breakdown
Sentiment Breakdown
22%Positive
Positive
22%Neutral
72%Negative
6%Based on 690 Reddit opinions
Sentiment Breakdown
23%Positive
Positive
23%Neutral
67%Negative
10%Based on 264 Reddit opinions
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Grant Stone Diesel Boot or Red Wing Blacksmith?
Based on 954 Reddit comments, Grant Stone Diesel Boot is the preferred choice with 77% positive sentiment vs Red Wing Blacksmith's 71%. Grant Stone Diesel Boot leads by 6 percentage points.
Should I buy Grant Stone Diesel Boot or Red Wing Blacksmith?
If you want the safer choice based on community sentiment, Grant Stone Diesel Boot has stronger approval ratings (77% vs 71%). However, Red Wing Blacksmith may still be better depending on your specific needs, budget, or use case.
What do Redditors love about Grant Stone Diesel Boot?
Reddit users highlight: Best price/performance ratio at $350. Used pairs $175-$225. Leo last: size down 0.5 from Brannock. With 690 mentions and 77% approval, it's a well-regarded choice in the community.
What do Redditors say about Red Wing Blacksmith?
Reddit users highlight: Briar Oil Slick leather classy with conditioning. Resolable, but 430 mini-lug stiff. Size down 0.5 from Brannock. With 264 mentions and 71% approval, it remains a popular alternative.
How many Reddit reviews were analyzed?
This comparison analyzed 954 Reddit comments: 690 about Grant Stone Diesel Boot and 264 about Red Wing Blacksmith. Data was sourced from Quality Boots community discussions.
How accurate are these ratings?
Our sentiment analysis is approximately 80-85% accurate compared to manual review. Well-discussed products with many mentions tend to have more reliable scores than niche items with fewer data points.
Why trust Reddit over professional reviews?
Reddit users bought products with their own money and have no incentive to mislead. You're seeing hundreds of real opinions across different use cases, not just one reviewer's take. This crowdsourced approach surfaces both common praise and recurring complaints.
281 Reddit opinions analyzed · Last updated 5/10/2026